Who are these digital marketing courses designed for?

Our courses are built specifically for busy small business owners who want to grow their business online but don't have the time — or the patience — to wade through jargon-heavy training. Whether you're just starting out or looking to sharpen your existing marketing, there's a course tier for you.

Do I need any marketing experience to get started?

Not at all. Our Essentials course is designed for complete beginners, and every lesson is written in plain English — no marketing jargon, no tech speak. If you can spare 20 minutes a day, you can do this.

What topics do the digital marketing courses cover?

Our courses walk you through the key pillars of digital marketing: building your online presence, mastering Google and SEO, social media strategy, email and SMS marketing, and AI-powered tools — plus bonus guides and downloadable resources.

What's the difference between the Essentials, Deluxe, and Expert courses?

Each tier builds on the last. Essentials covers the fundamentals to get you up and running. Deluxe goes deeper with 100+ actionable lessons across branding, SEO, social media, and automation. Expert is for those ready to accelerate results with advanced strategies. You can choose the level that matches where you're at.

How much time do I need to commit each day?

Just 20 minutes. Every lesson is designed to fit into a busy schedule — before the kids wake up, during your lunch break, or after you knock off for the day. No marathon study sessions required.

How much does a digital marketing course cost?

Plans start from just $49 per month. In most cases, our students find the course pays for itself within 3–6 months through the new customers and leads they generate.

Can I go at my own pace?

Absolutely. The courses are fully online and self-paced, so you can work through the lessons whenever it suits you. Jump ahead, revisit a topic, or take a break — it's entirely up to you.

What makes 20 Minute Marketing different from other online courses?

We've packed 25+ years of experience scaling startups and billion-dollar brands into bite-sized, actionable lessons built for small business. No fluff, no filler — just practical strategies you can implement the same day, in 20 minutes or less.

How long does each marketing lesson take?

Every lesson is designed to be completed in just 20 minutes, making it perfect for busy small business owners.

Do I need a large marketing budget?

No. Our courses teach you how to put your budget to work for you effectively, rather than wasting it on agencies.

How Much Should You DIY vs Outsource Your Marketing?

small business digital marketing Sep 26, 2026

Marketing Strategy

How Much Should You DIY vs Outsource Your Marketing?

An honest take from a marketing educator · Updated July 2026

The short answer

DIY the marketing that is cheap to learn and constant, like social posts, email, and your Google Business Profile. Outsource the work that is technical, high-stakes, or one-off, like website builds, ad account setup, and SEO strategy. The best approach for most small businesses is to DIY the day-to-day and buy in expertise for the foundations.

As a business that teaches marketing, you might expect us to say "do it all yourself". We will not, because that would be bad advice. The honest answer is that some marketing is perfect to DIY and some is worth paying for. Here is how to tell the difference.

DIY this: the constant, learnable work

The day-to-day marketing that never stops is best done in-house, because paying someone hourly for it forever gets expensive, and nobody knows your business like you do:

Social media posting. Constant, personal, and cheap to learn. Your voice beats an agency's.
Email marketing. Once set up, sending regular emails is straightforward and best in your voice.
Google Business Profile. Posting updates and replying to reviews is quick and needs your local knowledge.
Responding to enquiries and reviews. This is your relationship with customers. Own it.
Basic content and captions. Especially with AI tools helping, this is well within reach.

Outsource this: the technical, high-stakes, one-off work

Some jobs are worth paying an expert for, because the cost of getting them wrong is high, or they are a one-time foundation:

Website builds. A one-off, technical foundation. Worth doing properly once.
Google Ads account setup. Easy to waste real money on if set up wrong. Expert setup pays for itself.
SEO strategy and technical fixes. The strategy and technical side benefit from experience.
Branding and logo design. A foundational, one-off investment in how you look.
Anything you keep avoiding. If a task never gets done because you dread it, outsourcing it is better than it never happening.

The rule of thumb: DIY the marketing that happens weekly and is cheap to learn. Pay for the marketing that happens once, is technical, or costs real money when done wrong.

The contrarian bit: learn enough to not get ripped off

Even the work you outsource, you should understand well enough to judge it. Business owners who know nothing about SEO or ads are the easiest to overcharge and underserve, because they cannot tell good work from bad. You do not need to do everything yourself, but knowing the basics of everything means you hire better, brief better, and spot when something is not working. That is exactly why learning the fundamentals pays off even for the parts you never intend to do yourself.

A sensible starting split

For most small businesses: DIY your social, email, and Google Business Profile day-to-day, using AI tools to go faster. Pay an expert to build your website and set up your ads properly. Learn enough about SEO to keep your content on track and judge any help you hire. That balance keeps costs sane, keeps your marketing genuinely yours, and puts expert money only where it truly earns its keep.

Frequently asked questions

Should I do my own marketing or outsource it?

Do both, strategically. DIY the constant, learnable work like social posts, email, and your Google Business Profile. Outsource the technical, high-stakes, or one-off work like website builds, ad setup, and SEO strategy.

What marketing should a small business do themselves?

The day-to-day work that never stops and is cheap to learn: social media posting, email marketing, Google Business Profile updates, responding to enquiries and reviews, and basic content, especially with AI tools helping.

What marketing is worth paying an expert for?

The technical, high-stakes, or one-off jobs: website builds, Google Ads account setup, SEO strategy and technical fixes, and branding. These cost real money or reputation when done wrong, so expert help pays off.

Should I learn marketing even if I outsource it?

Yes. Understanding the basics of the work you outsource means you hire better, brief better, and can tell good work from bad. Business owners who know nothing are the easiest to overcharge and underserve.

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